EP0378061A2 - Dispositif et méthode pour la production de radiation lumineuse bleue-verte - Google Patents

Dispositif et méthode pour la production de radiation lumineuse bleue-verte Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0378061A2
EP0378061A2 EP89850440A EP89850440A EP0378061A2 EP 0378061 A2 EP0378061 A2 EP 0378061A2 EP 89850440 A EP89850440 A EP 89850440A EP 89850440 A EP89850440 A EP 89850440A EP 0378061 A2 EP0378061 A2 EP 0378061A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
essentially
crystal
resonator
laser
radiation
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP89850440A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0378061A3 (fr
EP0378061B1 (fr
Inventor
Christoph Stephan Harder
Wilfried Lenth
Heinz Peter Meier
William Paul Risk
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
International Business Machines Corp
Original Assignee
International Business Machines Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by International Business Machines Corp filed Critical International Business Machines Corp
Publication of EP0378061A2 publication Critical patent/EP0378061A2/fr
Publication of EP0378061A3 publication Critical patent/EP0378061A3/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0378061B1 publication Critical patent/EP0378061B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01SDEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT; DEVICES USING STIMULATED EMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION IN WAVE RANGES OTHER THAN OPTICAL
    • H01S5/00Semiconductor lasers
    • H01S5/06Arrangements for controlling the laser output parameters, e.g. by operating on the active medium
    • H01S5/068Stabilisation of laser output parameters
    • H01S5/0683Stabilisation of laser output parameters by monitoring the optical output parameters
    • H01S5/0687Stabilising the frequency of the laser
    • GPHYSICS
    • G02OPTICS
    • G02FOPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
    • G02F1/00Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
    • G02F1/35Non-linear optics
    • G02F1/37Non-linear optics for second-harmonic generation
    • GPHYSICS
    • G02OPTICS
    • G02FOPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
    • G02F1/00Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
    • G02F1/35Non-linear optics
    • G02F1/353Frequency conversion, i.e. wherein a light beam is generated with frequency components different from those of the incident light beams
    • G02F1/3542Multipass arrangements, i.e. arrangements to make light pass multiple times through the same element, e.g. using an enhancement cavity
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01SDEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT; DEVICES USING STIMULATED EMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION IN WAVE RANGES OTHER THAN OPTICAL
    • H01S5/00Semiconductor lasers
    • H01S5/40Arrangement of two or more semiconductor lasers, not provided for in groups H01S5/02 - H01S5/30
    • H01S5/4025Array arrangements, e.g. constituted by discrete laser diodes or laser bar

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a laser source and method for producing coherent blue-green-light radiation, and more particularly relates to a miniature solid-state laser source and method for producing said radiation by second-harmonic generation of the output of a semiconductor diode laser in a nonlinear crystal that permits noncritical phase matching over a wide range of temperatures, angles and input wavelength, rendering it especially suitable for optical storage applica­tions.
  • Blue-green lasers are desirable because they permit a significant enhancement of the storage density of an optical recording system.
  • fundamental material fabrication problems are encountered in developing diode lasers operating at wavelengths ⁇ 600 nm (i.e., in the blue-green range).
  • a minia­ture blue-green laser source has been developed that has two key components: (a) a semiconductor diode laser recently developed by others and having a wavelength of essentially 980-1,000 nm; and (b) a crystal of KTP that applicants unexpect­edly found to permit noncritical type II phase-matched SHG of essentially 980-1,000 nm radiation over a wide range of temperatures, input wavelengths and angles of the input beam to the crystal.
  • the apparatus and method embodying the invention produce coherent blue-green-light radiation having a wavelength of essentially 490-500 nm.
  • a diode laser such as a strained-­layer InGaAs/GaAs, semiconductor laser, provides an essenti­ally 980-1000 nm beam, and a nonlinear crystal of essentially KTP produces the blue-green radiation by noncritically phase-­matched SHG of said beam.
  • the beam preferably has a wave­length of 994 nm for generating 497 nm radiation.
  • the frequency of the laser is preferably matched and locked to that of an optical resonator within which the crystal is disposed.
  • the apparatus embodying the invention comprises two strained-layer InGaAs/GaAs diode lasers 10, 11 with collimation optics and modulated output beams 12, 13, respectively, that each provide essentially 994 nm fundamental radiation.
  • Beams 12, 13 are orthogonally polarized and directed to a conventionally coated polarization beamsplitter 14.
  • Beamsplitter 14 combines the 994 nm beams 12, 13 into a beam 15 that is directed to a standard beam­splitter 16.
  • Beamsplitter 16 passes the 994 nm fundamental radiation via a focussing lens 17 to a passive Fabry-Perot resonator 18.
  • Resonator 18 is resonant at a wavelength of 994 nm.
  • resonator 18 may be formed by placing a crystal 19 consisting of essentially KTP between two mirrors 20, 21 which are highly reflective at 994 nm; or, if preferred, resonator 18 may be formed by polishing spherical and/or flat surfaces at opposite ends of the crystal and depositing highly reflective coatings thereon.
  • Mirrors 20, 21 have facing surfaces that reflect the 994 nm; and mirror 21 transmits the 497 nm radiation.
  • KTP crystal 19 causes the resonator 18 to have two sets of resonant modes.
  • Laser diode 10 is linearly polarized along the a-axis of the KTP crystal and is frequency locked, in the manner hereafter described, to the a-axis polarized resonance of the resonator.
  • Laser diode 11 is polarized along the c-axis of the crystal and is similarly frequency locked to the c-axis polarized resonator resonance.
  • the beam 15 of essentially 994 nm radiation is focussed by lens 17 into, and is propagated along the b-axis of, KTP crystal 19, thereby producing a beam 22 of coherent blue-­green-light radiation at essentially 497 nm by noncritically phase-matched SHG of beam 15.
  • the frequencies of these two resonances may not be identical; however, as long as they are within the 1.4 nm wide phase-matching bandwidth for SHG, beam 22 will be efficiently produced.
  • the diode lasers 10, 11 are frequency locked to the resonances of the resonator 18 by respective feedback loops that comprise a polarization beamsplitter 25 and two detection and feedback circuits 26, 27.
  • Beamsplitter 16 directs a beam 28 of 994 nm radiation to beamsplitter 25 which then splits said beam into an a-axis polarized beam 29 and a c-axis polarized beam 30.
  • Beam 29 is directed to detection/feedback circuit 26 which may, for sake of illustration, be of the type disclosed in the April 1987 issue of "IEEE Journal of Light­wave Technology" at pp. 485 et seq.
  • This circuit 26 comprises briefly means (not shown) for generating a signal indicative of deviations in the frequency of the beam 12 from the frequ­ency of the resonator 18 and for adjusting the injection current to diode laser 10 and/or its temperature to maintain the laser frequency at the resonator frequency.
  • Beam 30 is directed to detection/feedback circuit 27 which comprises similar means (not shown) to adjust the injection current to diode laser 11 and/or its temperature.
  • the apparatus embodying the invention comprises a single strained-layer InGaAs/GaAs diode laser 60 with collimation optics and output beam 61 to provide essentially 994 nm fundamental radiation of linear polariza­tion.
  • Crystal 64 of essentially KTP is part of a passive resonator 65.
  • Mirrors 66, 67 at opposite ends of crystal 64 are highly reflective at 994 nm.
  • Mirror 67 is highly trans­missive at 497 nm.
  • the nonlinear crystal 64 is oriented such that its a- and c- axes are at an angle of 45 degrees to the polarization of the essentially 994 nm beam 61 for Type II noncritically phasematched second harmonic generation.
  • the phaseplate 69 is oriented such that it corrects the polariza­tion of the 994 nm radiation emerging from the crystal 64 so that the 994 nm radiation has a polarization direction of 45 degrees with respect to the a- and c- axes of the KTP crystal 64 when it re-enters the crystal after a round-trip pass through the resonator.
  • the diode laser 60 is frequency locked to the resonance of the resonator 65 by a feedback loop which comprises a beam splitter 62 and the detection and feedback circuitry 71.
  • the feedback circuitry 71 adjusts the injec­tion current to diode laser 60 and/or its temperature.
  • the apparatus embodying the invention comprises a single strained-layer InGaAs/GaAs diode laser 40 with collimation optics and modulated output beam 41 to provide essentially 994 nm fundamental radiation.
  • Beam 41 is directed through a dichroic beamsplitter 42 and a focussing lens 43 into a crystal 44 of essentially KTP that forms part of a passive resonator 45.
  • Mirrors 46, 47 (or highly reflect­ive coatings) at opposite ends of crystal 44 are highly reflective at 497 nm; but mirror 47 has a residual small transmission at 497 nm adjusted for maximum blue-green output power for the characteristics of the particular KTP crystal used.
  • Beam 41 is polarized at 45° to the a- and c- axes of the crystal 44.
  • Resonator 45 is designed to be resonant at the second-harmonic wavelength of essentially 497 nm. Since the second-harmonic radiation is linearly polarized along the a-axis of crystal 44, the second-harmonic radiation generated within the crystal can excite a similar a-axis polarized resonant mode of resonator 45.
  • a beam 48 of coherent blue-green-light radiation at essentially 497 nm is produced by noncritically phased-matched SHG of beam 41 as focussed by lens 43.
  • the wavelength of the generated second-harmonic radiation can be controlled by tuning the fundamental diode laser wavelength so that the essentially 497 nm radiation generated is frequency locked to match the resonant wavelength of resonator 45 by directing beam 49 to detection/feedback circuitry 50 which, as in the earlier described embodiment, adjusts the injection current to diode laser 40 and/or its temperature.
  • the efficiency obtained with the configuration of Figs. 1 and 2 are essentially equivalent to the square of the finesse of their passive resonators 18, 65, respectively.
  • the efficiency enhancement for the Fig. 3 configuration is essentially equal to the finesse of its resonator 45.
  • the efficiency enhancement is thus less for the Fig. 3 configuration, but that configuration is simpler than that of Fig. 1 wherein only one diode laser needs to be frequency locked to a resonant mode of the resonator.
  • the resonator 18 or 45 may, if desired, be replaced by a ring resonator comprising three or more reflecting surfaces. These surfaces may be provided by external mirrors or by polished crystal surfaces, such as described in the June 1988 issue of the "IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics" at pp. 913 et seq.
  • an optical waveguide 50 may be applied to an edge of a KTP crystal 51.
  • a diode laser 52 with collimation optics and modulated output beam 53 provides essentially 994 nm fundamental radiation. Beam 53 is directed through a focussing lens 54 into the waveguide to enhance the SHG efficiency in producing a beam 55 of coherent blue-green-light radiation at essentially 497 nm. Note that with this embodiment, no locking of laser frequency to resonator frequency is needed.
  • phase matching of the type II laser herein described is achieved by tuning the frequency of the diode laser source to that of a passive resonator by fine adjustment of the laser injection current. This is in contrast to the prior art method wherein the resonator frequency is tuned to that of the laser source by applying fields to the resonator.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Nonlinear Science (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Condensed Matter Physics & Semiconductors (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Lasers (AREA)
  • Optical Modulation, Optical Deflection, Nonlinear Optics, Optical Demodulation, Optical Logic Elements (AREA)
  • Semiconductor Lasers (AREA)
EP89850440A 1989-01-13 1989-12-18 Dispositif et méthode pour la production de radiation lumineuse bleue-verte Expired - Lifetime EP0378061B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US29746189A 1989-01-13 1989-01-13
US297461 1989-01-13

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0378061A2 true EP0378061A2 (fr) 1990-07-18
EP0378061A3 EP0378061A3 (fr) 1991-08-14
EP0378061B1 EP0378061B1 (fr) 1996-02-28

Family

ID=23146413

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP89850440A Expired - Lifetime EP0378061B1 (fr) 1989-01-13 1989-12-18 Dispositif et méthode pour la production de radiation lumineuse bleue-verte

Country Status (8)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0378061B1 (fr)
JP (1) JPH02239238A (fr)
KR (1) KR930006854B1 (fr)
CN (1) CN1025394C (fr)
AU (1) AU626964B2 (fr)
BR (1) BR9000115A (fr)
DE (1) DE68925810T2 (fr)
HK (1) HK203896A (fr)

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0486192A2 (fr) * 1990-11-13 1992-05-20 International Business Machines Corporation Système laser à semi-conducteur avec cavité à cristal non-linéaire
EP0520813A2 (fr) * 1991-06-27 1992-12-30 Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Appareil magnétooptique d'enregistrement/de reproduction
EP0585758A1 (fr) * 1992-08-26 1994-03-09 Sony Corporation Dispositif de conversion de longueur d'onde optique
CN1058194C (zh) * 1995-06-10 2000-11-08 中科院长春光学精密机械研究所 蓝绿激光血管内照射治疗仪
WO2010004477A2 (fr) * 2008-07-07 2010-01-14 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N. V. Eclairage à base laser ne présentant aucun danger pour les yeux
WO2019222260A1 (fr) * 2018-05-15 2019-11-21 Femtometrix, Inc. Conceptions de système d'inspection optique de génération de seconde harmonique (shg)
US10591525B2 (en) 2014-04-17 2020-03-17 Femtometrix, Inc. Wafer metrology technologies
US10989664B2 (en) 2015-09-03 2021-04-27 California Institute Of Technology Optical systems and methods of characterizing high-k dielectrics
US11199507B2 (en) 2014-11-12 2021-12-14 Femtometrix, Inc. Systems for parsing material properties from within SHG signals

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2738155B2 (ja) * 1991-02-07 1998-04-08 日本電気株式会社 導波路型波長変換素子
EP1772771A4 (fr) * 2004-07-15 2008-06-25 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Source de lumière cohérente et appareil optique l'utilisant
CN104795717B (zh) * 2015-04-21 2017-09-12 中国科学院上海光学精密机械研究所 蓝绿波段脉冲全固态激光器
US9859676B2 (en) * 2015-12-18 2018-01-02 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Light source configured for stabilization relative to external operating conditions

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CA1281402C (fr) * 1986-04-30 1991-03-12 William L. Austin Laser a semiconducteur a faisceau de sortie continu stabilise a frequence doublee
JPS63301582A (ja) * 1987-06-01 1988-12-08 Seiko Epson Corp レ−ザ−光源装置
US4791631A (en) * 1987-08-31 1988-12-13 International Business Machines Corporation Wide tolerance, modulated blue laser source

Non-Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
APPL. PHYS. LETT., vol. 49, no. 24, 15th December 1986, pages 1659-1660, American Institute of Physics; D. FEKETA et al.: "Graded-index separate-confinement InGaAs/GaAs strained-layer quantum well laser grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition" *
APPLIED OPTICS, vol. 26, no. 12, 15th June 1987, pages 2390-2394; T.Y. FAN et al.: "Second harmonic generation and accurate index of refraction measurements in flux-grown KTiOPO4" *
APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS, vol. 55, no. 12, 18th September 1989, pages 1179-1181; W.P. RISK et al.: "Noncritically phase-matched frequency doubling using 994 nm dye and diode laser radiation in KTiOPO4" *
NOV. J. QUANTUM ELECTRON., vol. 15, no. 7, July 1985, pages 885-886, American Institute of Physics; A.L. ALEKSANDROVSKII et al.: "Efficient nonlinear optical converters made of potassium titanyl phosphate crystals" *

Cited By (24)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0486192A2 (fr) * 1990-11-13 1992-05-20 International Business Machines Corporation Système laser à semi-conducteur avec cavité à cristal non-linéaire
EP0486192A3 (en) * 1990-11-13 1992-07-08 International Business Machines Corporation A laser system with a non linear crystal resonator
US5511048A (en) * 1991-01-04 1996-04-23 Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Magneto-optical recording and reproducing apparatus
EP0520813A2 (fr) * 1991-06-27 1992-12-30 Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Appareil magnétooptique d'enregistrement/de reproduction
EP0520813A3 (en) * 1991-06-27 1993-06-16 Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Magneto-optical recording and reproducing apparatus
EP0585758A1 (fr) * 1992-08-26 1994-03-09 Sony Corporation Dispositif de conversion de longueur d'onde optique
US5410561A (en) * 1992-08-26 1995-04-25 Sony Corporation Optical wavelength converter for obtaining wavelength conversion efficiency
CN1058194C (zh) * 1995-06-10 2000-11-08 中科院长春光学精密机械研究所 蓝绿激光血管内照射治疗仪
WO2010004477A2 (fr) * 2008-07-07 2010-01-14 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N. V. Eclairage à base laser ne présentant aucun danger pour les yeux
WO2010004477A3 (fr) * 2008-07-07 2010-02-25 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N. V. Eclairage à base laser ne présentant aucun danger pour les yeux
US11549651B2 (en) 2008-07-07 2023-01-10 Signify Holding B.V. Eye-safe laser-based lighting
US10613131B2 (en) 2014-04-17 2020-04-07 Femtometrix, Inc. Pump and probe type second harmonic generation metrology
US10591525B2 (en) 2014-04-17 2020-03-17 Femtometrix, Inc. Wafer metrology technologies
US10663504B2 (en) 2014-04-17 2020-05-26 Femtometrix, Inc. Field-biased second harmonic generation metrology
US11150287B2 (en) 2014-04-17 2021-10-19 Femtometrix, Inc. Pump and probe type second harmonic generation metrology
US11293965B2 (en) 2014-04-17 2022-04-05 Femtometrix, Inc. Wafer metrology technologies
US11415617B2 (en) 2014-04-17 2022-08-16 Femtometrix, Inc. Field-biased second harmonic generation metrology
US11199507B2 (en) 2014-11-12 2021-12-14 Femtometrix, Inc. Systems for parsing material properties from within SHG signals
US11988611B2 (en) 2014-11-12 2024-05-21 Femtometrix, Inc. Systems for parsing material properties from within SHG signals
US10989664B2 (en) 2015-09-03 2021-04-27 California Institute Of Technology Optical systems and methods of characterizing high-k dielectrics
US11808706B2 (en) 2015-09-03 2023-11-07 California Institute Of Technology Optical systems and methods of characterizing high-k dielectrics
CN113167741A (zh) * 2018-05-15 2021-07-23 菲拓梅里克斯公司 二次谐波产生(shg)光学检查系统设计
WO2019222260A1 (fr) * 2018-05-15 2019-11-21 Femtometrix, Inc. Conceptions de système d'inspection optique de génération de seconde harmonique (shg)
US11946863B2 (en) 2018-05-15 2024-04-02 Femtometrix, Inc. Second Harmonic Generation (SHG) optical inspection system designs

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
HK203896A (en) 1996-11-15
KR900012312A (ko) 1990-08-03
AU626964B2 (en) 1992-08-13
EP0378061A3 (fr) 1991-08-14
CN1025394C (zh) 1994-07-06
KR930006854B1 (ko) 1993-07-24
AU4778690A (en) 1990-07-19
CN1044193A (zh) 1990-07-25
EP0378061B1 (fr) 1996-02-28
DE68925810T2 (de) 1996-09-26
DE68925810D1 (de) 1996-04-04
BR9000115A (pt) 1990-10-23
JPH02239238A (ja) 1990-09-21

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
CA1288156C (fr) Laser bleu module a grande insensibilite
CA1288851C (fr) Generation de radiations lumineuses coherentes par melange optique
US5060233A (en) Miniature blue-green laser source using second-harmonic generation
US5027361A (en) Efficient laser harmonic generation employing a low-loss external optical resonator
US4809291A (en) Diode pumped laser and doubling to obtain blue light
US5644584A (en) Tunable blue laser diode
US6763042B2 (en) Apparatus and method for frequency conversion and mixing of laser light
US5430754A (en) Solid state laser apparatus
EP1037338B1 (fr) Laser accordable à haute puissance
US5095491A (en) Laser system and method
JP2002528921A (ja) キャビティー内の周波数変換された光学的ポンプ半導体レーザー
EP0378061B1 (fr) Dispositif et méthode pour la production de radiation lumineuse bleue-verte
US5671232A (en) Second harmonic generation method and apparatus
US5585962A (en) External resonant frequency mixers based on degenerate and half-degenerate resonators
Beier et al. Second harmonic generation of the output of an AlGaAs diode oscillator amplifier system in critically phase matched LiB3O5 and β-BaB2O4
US3675039A (en) Coherent optical devices employing zinc germanium phosphide
US5502738A (en) Polarization control element and solid-state laser system
EP0572201B1 (fr) Laser à puissance moyenne élevée générant radiation à longeur d'onde de près de 530 NM
JPH08116121A (ja) 波長変換レーザー
US5757827A (en) Second harmonic generating apparatus and apparatus employing laser
US7460570B2 (en) Green coherent light generating device using even nonlinear crystals
JPH0595144A (ja) 半導体レーザ励起固体レーザ
JPH0927648A (ja) 和周波レーザ装置
Kmeda et al. CW 355 nm generation by doubly-resonant sum-frequency mixing in an external resonator
Kane et al. Coherent communication link using diode-pumped lasers

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A2

Designated state(s): CH DE FR GB LI

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19901113

PUAL Search report despatched

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009013

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A3

Designated state(s): CH DE FR GB LI

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19930916

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): CH DE FR GB LI

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Effective date: 19960228

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: NV

Representative=s name: CARL O. BARTH C/O IBM CORPORATION ZURICH INTELLECT

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 68925810

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19960404

EN Fr: translation not filed
PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed
REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: IF02

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PUE

Owner name: MEDIATEK INC.

Free format text: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION#OLD ORCHARD ROAD#ARMONK, N.Y. 10504 (US) -TRANSFER TO- MEDIATEK INC.#5F, NO 1-2 INNOVATION ROAD 1 SCIENCE-BASED INDUSTRIAL PARK#HSIN-CHU 300 (TW)

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: NV

Representative=s name: MICHELI & CIE INGENIEURS-CONSEILS

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20061213

Year of fee payment: 18

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: CH

Payment date: 20061214

Year of fee payment: 18

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20061227

Year of fee payment: 18

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20071218

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20080701

Ref country code: CH

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20071231

Ref country code: LI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20071231

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20071218